Complement activation before, during and after cardiopulmonary bypass

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Plasma levels of the complement parent molecules C3, C4, and factor Band their split products, C3d, C4d, and Ba were measured in 12 patientsundergoing cardiopulmonary bypass for coronary artery surgery. Alternativeand common complement pathway activation, demonstrated by statisticallysignificant rising levels of Ba (P less than 0.05), and C3d (P less than0.05) and by elevated Ba:B (P less than 0.05) and C3d:C3 (P less than 0.05)ratios were found before the institution of cardiopulmonary bypass butfollowing heparin administration suggesting that heparin may itselfinitiate alternative pathway activation. In addition, significant depletionof parent complement components and elevation of split productconcentrations was seen during bypass suggesting classical and alternatepathway activation (P less than 0.01). This study clarifies the pathways ofcomplement activation during bypass and presents evidence that heparinadministration may initially activate the complement cascade.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: